The 14 veterans who make up the Panhandle’s 14th Veterans Memorial Flight to Washington, DC, fly from Denver International Airport to Baltimore-Washington International today.
    The group drove yesterday from Chadron to a special lunch at the Scottsbluff Elks Club, then to a motel near the Denver airport to spend the night. They’ll return Sunday to the Panhandle on Sunday.
A send-off celebration yesterday morning in Chadron included the presentation of 2 Quilts of Valor to thank and honor veterans and their families. The recipients were veteran Carl Cousin of Chadron and Clay Barker of Alliance, one of the companions or Guardians..
     Two of the 3 veterans who joined the caravan after lunch in Scottsbluff were presented with Valor Quilts in a pre-lunch ceremony there, John Oliver and Roy Greenwalt, both of Gering. All the other vets already had Quilts of Valor.
      Although the trips to Washington are arranged by a Chadron group, the non-profit Veterans Memorial Flight, veterans from across the Panhandle have always been encouraged to take part.
      This year has the smallest number ever of local veterans with just 3 from Dawes, Sioux, and Sheridan Counties as the 14 veterans come from 9 different towns and 3 states.
     Neither the veterans or guardians pays anything for the trip, thanks to local donations. There were 4 donation presentations yesterday at the Send-Off Ceremony.
The Chadron VFW Post 1375 gave $2,000 while the Rushville American Legion contributed $1,000 and the Hay Springs Legion Auxiliary $500. New Leaf/Apricot Lane owners Phil and Angela Lollar gave $455 from a shopping fundraiser.
This year’s 14 veterans is the most local organizers can handle, both logistically and financially.
There were multiple flights in some of the early years, but now it’s just one flight a year – which sometimes creates a waiting list. There were 4 this year who are now the first ones signed up for next year.